FLYERS AND FLYING

Taranaki Daily News, 22 February 1935, Page 14

FLYERS AND FLYING

MULTI-ENGINED PLANES BOMBERS OF TO-MORROW. CIVIL AIRCRAFT IN DOMINION. (By Kiwi.) 1 “The signs and portents are unmistakable and foretell a greatly diminished use of the single-engined aeroplane in civil flying and its total disappearance from military flying,” states a writer in the trade bulletin of one of the largest aircraft manufacturing concerns in the world. Not only, however, does the expert assert that the’ single-engined machine will disappear from the fleets of commercial aircraft companies and the bombing and fighting squadrons of the air force, but he considers it extremely probable that the multi-engined craft will eventually find place even in the fleets of army and civil training organisations. As authority for his forecast he quotes students of advanced design theory for both civil and military aeroplanes. The advantages of multi-engined craft for civil purposes are already well known, but of particular interest are the claims made for the multi-engined military machine. The fighter* must fly faster and the bomber farther than any other machines, states the writer. At one time the multi-engined machine was generally slightly behind the singleengined machine in speed, but during the past three years immense strides had been made in the technique of building the multi-engined aeroplane and it was now held on the authority of the world’s leading designers that twin or tripleengined craft will be built that will be as fast as the correspondingly horse powered single-engined planes. In addition to speed the relative range and weight-lifting qualities of the two types must be considered. It has been emphasised again and again that multiengined machines were superior to comparable single-engined machines in range. They could fly farther with a given weight—often so much farther that it was not unusual to find the twinengined machine carrying a specific weight twice the distance non-stop that a single-engined machine of the same power could carry it.

New Agility in Air. Powers of manoeuvre were of paramount importance in aerial warfare and this had been held out as an argument against multi-engined inachines. However, stated this particular writer, if the loads were the same there was no reason why a multi-engined machinp could not be built to manoeuvre as well and as swiftly in its own way as a singleengined fighter of to-day. The skilful twin-engined pilot would employ his power units for the achievement, of manoeuvres that could not possibly be imitated by a single-engined aeroplane. Probably the main factor, however, turning the attention of the staffs of the world’s air forces towards the multiengined aircraft was the bomber. Provision of two or more engines would permit the bomber to. be a self-contained unit, able to hold its own in combat by reason of speed, manoeuvreability dnd immerisely improved visibility. All these things had an indirect but none the less immensely vital effect upon the efficiency of an air force. Pilots, in that they cost money to train and were the very basis of an efficient air-fighting unit, must be conserved more .than gunners, bomb aimers and observers; and the provision of bombing machines that could both carry a load and look after themselves would have that effect. New Zealand Registrations.

.Examination of the list of registered aircraft as supplied to New Zealand Flying Clubs this week provides some interesting information of the strides made by civil aviation in New Zealand during the past year or two. According to the register there are 84 registered civil aircraft in the Dominion at the present time and it seems probable that the number will be substantially increased during the next 12 months when several recently formed air transport companies obtain the machines for' the operation of their services. A rough analysis of the types shows that light machines are, of course, immensely in the preponderance. There are 37 Moths of the standard type largely operated by the various flying clubs, this figure including six new metalframed machines recently issued by the Government to various flying clubs. Twenty-five of the light machines are privately owned—rather a surprising proportion for those not close in touch with Dominion aviation matters. Fortyone machines are operated by the clubs and 18 by aviation companies. Seventeen types of aircraft in addition to the Moths are represented in the list. There are five Spartans, one of which is privately owned, two Spartan three-seat-ers owned by New Zealand Airways, three Avro-Avians, three Avians and two Avros all privately owned. There are two Desoutter monoplanes and two Wacos. There are a Simmons Spartan, a Monocoupe, the D.H. Dragon owned by the centenary air race competitors, Messrs. J. D. Hewett and C. E. Kay, an Austin Whippet, a Heath Parasol, a Redwing, the Manawatu Aero Club’s Miles Hawk, a Tui, a Comptor Swift, and an Avro le Rhone. The Moth special machines comprise five Puss Moths, three Fox Moths, one Moth Coupe and one Hermes Moth. Several are not classified on the list. It is notable that the Dragon is the only machine capable of carrying more than two or three passengers.

Queer Freight for Planes. Corpses, serum, pigs, fish, snakes and hundreds of other unusual items of freight have been transported express delivery by aeroplane within recent months, according to Press messages, but perhaps the most remarkable use to which aerial transport has yet been put is reported from Bavaria. Europe has been experiencing one of the most severe winters in living memory and, just before Christmas, Central Europe was caught in the grip of a terrific cold snap. Thousands of swallows migrating from the north were caught by the frost and overcome. Many died, but the survivors were caught, packed in warm crates and transported by aeroplane to Italy, where they were released.

Activity of Russia. * Although the U.S.S.TL gets short shrift in publicity from the Press of the world unless for criticism, Russia must be becoming more “air-minded” than any country in the world to-day. The Air League of Russia, of which dues-paying membership is reported to be more than 14,000,000, is playing an increasingly active part in the practical encouragement of civil aviation.

It provides at least one aeroplane for every factory with more than 3000 workers and a glider for all factories with 2000 workers. Parachute jumping is encouraged as a leisure time activity. Three hundred thousand children are receiving instruction in model design and construction.